See How This Colorist Transformed Her Client's Graying Roots Into Fully Silver Hair
Any colorist who has given a client trendy gray hair will tell you it's rarely a simple or swift process. It usually requires going platinum first, which can take several sessions and cause quite a bit of damage; keeping the yellow tones at bay is another feat in and of itself. But just because someone has already started naturally going gray doesn't mean it's any easier to transition to a full head of silver strands. It requires just as much persistence and investment, and most importantly, a talented colorist like Melissa Sawers, who recently shared the results of a transformation she achieved on one of her clients who was ready to stop covering her grays and start being a silver fox.
"My client was tired of years of coloring to cover her grey. She was ready to embrace it and I was more than happy to let her know what the process really consists of," Sawers wrote in the caption on her Instagram post, which shows that the client started with very long, medium-brown hair and silver roots. "This did not happen overnight, and I explained to her it would take several sessions to get her to her goal." Each of those sessions at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, salon Hair Circus took approximately six hours and consisted of lightening her hair and using Olaplex to maintain its integrity. After each lightening session, Sawers would tone her client's hair to neutralize brassiness. Once it was pale enough, she achieved the incredible color with Matrix Watercolors in Silver Grey.
This, of course, isn't where the artistry ends. "To maintain this look, she's scheduled to come in every eight weeks for a toner to neutralize any unwanted yellow and keep it a true gray tone," Sawers tells Allure. "We had to change her home regimen as well. I recommended shampooing once a week so as not to break down the color or over-wash the hair — sulfate-free and sodium-chloride-free shampoo is best. I also recommended a moisturizing conditioner and biweekly masks to keep the hair healthy and hydrated. It's also key to use a heat protectant when using thermal tools and to keep the temperature no higher than 365 degrees to prevent damage."
If you're ready to make a similar transition, prepare to spend several hundred dollars per session and to be patient. "It is a process," Sawers tells Allure, urging those interested in going fully gray to trust their colorist. "Everyone's hair lifts differently, so it may take more or fewer sessions depending on where you are starting from."
More on gray hair:
Now check out 100 years of short hair:
Follow Marci on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to Allure's newsletter for daily beauty stories delivered right to your inbox.
